Here’s a great gift item produced by one of our Forum Members. Tom Sziler (aka Tomekeuro85) makes CNC-machined aluminum coasters designed to look like cartridge headstamps. Tom’s coasters are first milled from a solid piece of 6061 aluminum, then anodized in a brass color. Anodizing provides color and protects the finish.

Headstamp Coasters come in sets of four (either matching or mixed) with rubber pads on the bottom. Tom can engrave his coasters to look like most actual production headstamps, for almost every cartridge. (Buyers need to specify the Cartridge name and brass manufacturer.) Cost is $35.00 for set of four (4) matching coasters, or $40.00 for a mixed set with various calibers or mfg. names. Shipping is $5.00 flat rate. Discounts are offered with five (5) or more sets. Order from Tom.Sziler [at] gmail.com.

Tom is taking orders now for Christmas delivery. He told us: “I will set a limit of 60 sets so that I can have them all shipped out in time for Christmas. If you’re interested please get your order in ASAP. I would very strongly prefer to have payment by November 25th at the latest to have everything ready to go as soon as I can. If the payment is not received by that date, I cannot guarantee delivery by Christmas.” To order, send email to Tom.Sziler [at] gmail.com .

Editor’s Note: Sometimes proven old designs are just as good as the latest technology. In the capable hands of Robert Vadasz, the scratched and well-used 11-year-old Smith & Wesson revolver shown below has won three PPC National Championships and the 2011 National Police Shooting Championship (multiple guns used). Here’s a profile of a great shooter and his trusty old wheelgun.

Story by Lars Dalseide, for The NRA Blog
When I first approached U.S. Border Patrol Agent Robert Vadasz about profiling the guns he used to win the 2011 National Police Shooting Championship — his third in four years — he had just completed the final stage of the Revolver 1500 Match. A match that he won with a score of 1490-117X. A match in which he used his Bob Jones PPC revolver.

“It’s a .38 Special Smith & Wesson,” said Vadasz. “My Bob Jones PPC revolver. The very first competition gun that I ever had built … probably back in 2000″. Fitted with Hogue Monogrip, the .38 hasn’t been tinkered with since the day it arrived. “Exact same gun,” said Vadasz. “It’s never been worked on. It’s never been changed. I won all three of my PPC National Championships with this gun. It’s real special to me.”

In a 2001 NRA Law Enforcement Division Newsletter, gunsmith Bob Jones talked about his work on PPC pistols: “I started working on pistols in the Navy, and it kind of stuck — it was something I really enjoyed doing,” said Bob, thinking back to his days as a Naval armorer who tinkered with .45s.

Bob’s typical modifications to a Smith & Wesson revolver include fitting a Shilen barrel, bobbing the hammer (cutting off the cocking spur), adding an Aristocrat Sight Rib, tuning and smoothing the trigger, and installing a trigger stop. The Shilen barrel increases accuracy, adds some additional weight for stability, and its increased size (and surface area) helps with heat dissipation.

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The MidwayUSA Foundation, Inc. is making a special limited offer to any not-for-profit group that wants to participate in the Scholastic Shooting Trust endowment for high school and college shooting teams.

In cooperation with Winchester, the Foundation is offering The “Nearly-Perfect” Rifle Battery — a matched set of four Winchester Model 70 Super Grade rifles in calibers ranging from varmint to dangerous game and limited to 100 sets. The MidwayUSA Foundation will donate these sets to not-for-profit groups to be raffled and the proceeds used for their local youth shooting programs and their local high school or college shooting team Scholastic Shooting Trust endowment.

The MidwayUSA Foundation works with shooting teams, conservation groups and the shooting industry to raise funds in support of high school and collegiate shooting programs. For more info, contact Dick Leeper, Exec. Director, MidwayUSA Foundation, Inc. atdleeper [at] midwayusafoundation.org.